chapter 57
Fwoosh!
Lee Hyun stood before a waterfall halfway up the mountain.
A magnificent waterfall cascaded down.
“Wow…”
“It’s breathtaking.”
Assistant Managers Eom Gi-seon and Seo Aeri gazed around in awe.
Among all the beautiful sights of Hwagwasan Mountain, this spot was especially stunning.
Kim Min-jung tilted her head.
“Is there something here? I don’t see any caves.”
“There is.”
Lee Hyun pulled a tooth of Dochul from his inventory.
The team flinched and stepped back in surprise.
They had seen the terrible consequences of swinging that axe before.
“Wait, sen… damn it! Everyone, get down!”
Before Kim Min-jung could stop him, Lee Hyun had already thrown Shikcheol toward the waterfall.
Bwoooosh—
[The fury of the Dueokshini erupts!]
Kabrrrr!
Lightning struck the waterfall violently, sending steam scattering in all directions.
The team flattened themselves in panic. Lightning arcs flickered above their heads before vanishing.
“Senior! Please! Next time, at least give a warning before you do something like that!”
Kim Min-jung lifted her head, exasperated. If she had hesitated half a beat, the stone fragment could have hit her.
The once-beautiful scenery was already devastated.
“Sorry. But look over there.”
Kim Min-jung turned toward where Lee Hyun pointed, her face falling in surprise.
Between the split waterfall, a small cave entrance appeared.
“That… there?”
“Exactly. Hidden stage.”
“…!”
“No wonder it hasn’t been found until now. Let’s check it out.”
While Kim Min-jung shook her head, Lee Hyun lightly leapt toward the cave.
Thud!
As he landed—
Fwoosh—
Arrows shot out from the darkness inside the cave.
They were coated with potent poison.
Lee Hyun raised a new axe to block.
Chaang!!
“Senior, are you okay?!”
Kim Min-jung and the others rushed to check on him.
Shishishishhh!
Arrows shot at them too.
Kim Min-jung fired magic bullets, Eom Gi-seon swung a half-greatsword, and Seo Aeri deflected the poisoned arrows with her elongated nails.
Their senses were heightened to an extreme degree, detecting even silently flying arrows.
‘All that practice has paid off.’
Lee Hyun smiled faintly, while Seo Aeri pulled a poisoned arrow from the ground, narrowing her eyes.
“This is neurotoxic venom. Anyone without strong resistance will immediately collapse, and muscle spasms may cause respiratory distress.”
“What? Poisoned arrows? Does that mean there are traps?”
Lee Hyun shook his head.
“No. These were manually triggered.”
“Senior, that means…!”
“Yeah. The monsters are hiding in the shadows.”
“…!”
“…!!”
“A bow-wielding monster that knows how to conceal its presence. Very rare. Hehe.”
The team tensed.
Even a single arrow demanded immense strength and mana to deflect.
From that alone, they could tell this dungeon was far more dangerous than the previous 14.
“This isn’t a simple 1-star dungeon. Assume combat formation.”
Eom Gi-seon led the way, Lee Hyun followed, Seo Aeri took the right flank, and Kim Min-jung covered the rear.
Without orders, the team naturally formed a battle line.
“Entering.”
It was dark, but a small electrical light floated in the air, enough to see ahead.
Not a sound of footsteps disturbed the eerie silence.
The tension thickened, knowing the archer monster could strike at any moment.
“Kak kak kak! It’s been a long time, hasn’t it? Fascinating to see it again. Right, master?”
“….”
Sa O-jeong grinned throughout the cave.
In contrast, Son Oh-gong remained silent.
Lee Hyun glanced at him and asked Sa O-jeong,
‘Master, have you been here before?’
Kak kak. Our apostle asks foolish questions.
‘What do you mean?’
Sa O-jeong smiled.
This is where the strongest of the seven great demons, ruling over eight million yoma under the Twin Deities, was born.
‘…Ah.’
So anyone who practiced demonic arts, even other gods, would naturally be curious. Even the Jade Emperor…!
“Too many words today, junior.”
Son Oh-gong cut Sa O-jeong off.
Better leave the chatter there.
“…Understood.”
Even Sa O-jeong nodded silently.
Lee Hyun sensed Son Oh-gong’s gaze had darkened since arriving in this dungeon.
Son Oh-gong asked Lee Hyun,
“Kid, you knew from the start this is Hwagwasan?”
‘Yes. The dungeon report made it obvious.’
“Do you also know the era this is from?”
Lee Hyun shook his head.
‘Not exactly. But judging by the traces left here…’
Lee Hyun looked at the marks on the cave walls.
[“Sacred Relic: Hwaangumjeong” identifies this as the ancient training ground of ■■■■ based on the traces in the cave.]
‘Seems like early mythological times.’
The cave had marks left from when Son Oh-gong trained under his first master, Subori.
They were relatively well-preserved.
Thus,
[Hwaangumjeong recognizes the traces. Accepts the training methods of ■■■■ ■■■.]
[Deeper understanding of ■■■■’s techniques attained.]
[Previously absorbed techniques are reconstructed from the basics.]
…
[Most skill proficiencies of ■■■■’s techniques greatly increase.]
…
[Understanding of Hwaangumjeong deepens.]
[Affinity with Yeobong rises.]
Lee Hyun could grow just by observing.
He had accumulated much of Son Oh-gong’s techniques through previous dungeons.
‘However, some things seem different. These marks appear more refined than early Great Sage techniques.’
He pointed at traces with his finger—marks left by Yeobong on the wall.
They were clean and precise, unlike the rough, savage other marks.
Moreover,
‘Divine power… massive Buddhist energy.’
Traces left from serving the Buddha, Tujeonseungbul.
As expected:
“Tujeonryu. A technique I mastered combining various martial and mystical arts in my later years.”
Lee Hyun felt desire for Tujeonryu, but also understood its meaning.
“This Hwagwasan is not from a specific era, but represents the entire mountain across my life—a concept filled with memories.”
A Hwagwasan encompassing all ages of Journey to the West.
“Now then…”
At that moment, Fwoosh!
A new arrow shot out.
Quieter, more infused with mana. A sneak attack.
Lee Hyun raised his axe, deflecting it roughly.
Zzzz—
Pain shot down his wrist.
‘Fierce.’
Lee Hyun’s eyes sharpened.
“Enemies!”
“More! Multiple this time!”
Pew pew pew pew—!
Mana-charged arrows rained from the cave ceiling.
“Damn! So many! Not one, but several?!”
Eom Gi-seon leapt forward.
[Legacy: “Little General Uturi” flaps huge wings!]
His wings, attached under his arms, expanded dozens of times and flapped, creating a gust that blocked the arrows.
Bang! Tatatatang!
Kim Min-jung and Seo Aeri struck back with magic bullets and elongated nails, targeting arrows Eom Gi-seon missed.
[Legacy: “Red Lotus Rampage” fires wildly!]
[Legacy: “Claw-Eating Wild Rat” bites enemies!]
Though powerful, the arrows’ momentum was solid.
Puhwaak!
[Legacy: “Little General Uturi” falls to the floor, poisoned.]
Second and third poisoned arrows hit his wings, shaking him.
Just as the fourth was about to strike,
Pajijik!
A bluish-white lightning struck.
“Found it.”
Hwaangumjeong focused sharply in the darkness.
[The rage of Dueokshini spreads everywhere!]
The evolved lightning, absorbing the White Tiger’s power, was not only stronger but precise.
Kaboom! Bang!
Every axe swing deflected the remaining arrows, lighting up the cave.
‘With the added [Skill] effect…’
[Skill’s additional effect greatly improves skill accuracy!]
[Frosty Play (SS)]
A heart frozen by frost no longer wavers with hot emotions. From that cold center, calculated schemes unfold, reducing the world to mere amusement.
-
Effect: Increased trap, tool, combo speed; causes 3s judgment reduction on status effect success; 25% chance for critical damage.
-
Type: Skill add-on.
-
Origin: Fairy tale “The Snow Queen.”
‘I can reach even beyond.’
Lee Hyun hurled his axe into the darkness.
[The fury of Dueokshini erupts!]
Kurrrrr!
Lightning struck, knocking back all monsters hidden in the shadows.
“Ugh! Aaah!”
“Not even a Thunder Strike… what is this!”
“Kraaah!”
Blackened monsters rolled across the ground. Some could even speak.
“…Monkeys?”
Kim Min-jung was shocked. They looked like ordinary monkeys.
Yet all had vicious eyes, wearing armor like agile soldiers.
“Kid, you!”
‘I didn’t load full power, so don’t worry. And,’
Lee Hyun ignored Son Oh-gong’s emotional reaction, gripping Shikcheol and Gyohyeol in both hands.
‘These soldiers aren’t as weak as the Great Sage might think.’
The monkey soldiers quickly regained their stance and vanished into the darkness.
Clack clack!
Crossbows cocked from all directions. No longer hiding, they attacked aggressively.
Simultaneously,
[The darkness in the cave lifts slightly, revealing a chamber.]
“This is…”
The ceiling seemed to expand.
[Monkey soldiers show strong hostility toward you!]
“…Quite a lot.”
Lee Hyun glanced up, wryly smiling.
Across the dome-like ceiling, dozens—maybe hundreds—of glowing eyes glared down, ready to strike.
“Where did all these monkeys come from?”
Kim Min-jung helped Eom Gi-seon to his feet, frowning.
‘We’ve seen rabbits and deer plenty, but no monkeys until now. Are all these the ones?’
She hoped Lee Hyun would somehow handle it. The other team members felt the same.
‘The monkey soldiers are hesitant to fire, afraid of the senior’s mind.’
Kim Min-jung cautiously predicted victory, readying her magic gun.
“Human.”
“Drop your weapons.”
“Become a mountain offering, human.”
“Move and you’ll be shot.”
As the monkeys growled, the team watched Lee Hyun, unsure what he would do.
He raised both axes high and…
Clang!
Dropped them to the ground.
“Surrender.”
“…?”
“…??”
“Surrender. What are you waiting for? Aren’t you taking me?”
“…!?”
“…!!”
Lee Hyun smiled at the shocked team and monkeys.
The team, utterly unprepared for Lee Hyun’s surrender, froze.
Crackle.
‘Follow the instructions given before entering the cave. If we comply, they won’t harm us.’
Through the radio, they realized there was a plan and obeyed. His orders had never failed.
Thus, all team members were bound and scattered. Lee Hyun was no exception.
The monkeys dragged him away.
From behind, they resembled Son Oh-gong—an impressive sight.
‘The soldiers from the <Monkey Lair> felt different, but these…’
Kak kak. A sudden surrender? As expected, our apostle is unpredictable.
Sa O-jeong chuckled.
“Why surrender all of a sudden? Revealing your apostle identity would’ve settled this smoothly. Or was it to separate your comrades?”
‘No. I surrendered because I am the Great Sage’s apostle. They already know who I am.’
“Huh?”
Sa O-jeong tilted his head, confused.
‘Still don’t understand? These…’
Lee Hyun alternated glances between the silent Son Oh-gong and hostile monkey soldiers.
‘They utterly despise the Great Sage.’
“…!!”
